Flames continue to be road warriors

Sean Monahan’s goal stood as the game winner in the Calgary Flames' 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils, making him the first Flame to hit double digits in deciding markers since Jarome Iginla (10) did it in 2003-04.

Calgary Flames goaltender David Rittich stops Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils from close in during NHL action Thursday night in Newark, N.J. Defenceman TJ Brodie lends assistance to Rittich, who made 29 saves in a 3-2 Calgary victory.Julio Cortez/The Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. — Johnny Gaudreau had hit the scoresheet before he even stepped on the ice Thursday at Prudential Center.

The 24-year-old Carneys Point, N.J., native, was credited with a goal from Tuesday’s win in Chicago, a deflection that had gone off the shaft of his stick from a Michael Stone point-shot.

But in a 3-2 victory and playing in front of his own personal fan club in Jersey — his mom, Jane, sister Kristen and niece Kamryn leading the charge — Gaudreau netted a highlight-reel marker on a breakaway backhander, shortly after an exciting two-on-one the other direction featuring Devils Taylor Hall and Jesper Bratt.

It illustrated the two teams perfectly: the opportunistic Flames (28-18-8) who are successful on the road this 2017-18 season and the promising, speedy Devils (27-18-8) who are on the brink of surprising the National Hockey League — if not this year, then certainly in the near future.

Gaudreau’s goal, his 18th of the season, put the Flames up 2-1 with just 5:27 elapsed in the second period.

“I saw them in the stands during warmups, and it was exciting to see them,” Gaudreau said. “It’s a nice little token there to start the game off, when you see your family. (My niece) doesn’t really understand too much right now, but my older sister, she’ll say, “John scored, John scored,” and (my niece will) get really excited. I’m excited to see them.”

Before the middle frame was over, Gaudreau’s buddy and linemate, Sean Monahan, netted his second marker of the game, his 27th of the season and fifth goal in four straight games to give the Flames a 3-1 lead.

The tally started on Brodie’s stick when he sent a long bomb pass to Gaudreau who passed it to Monahan. The Flames No. 1 centre chipped it at Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid, with the rebound bouncing off a helmet and back out to Monahan who finished the job to put the Flames ahead 3-1 with 1:55 remaining in the second frame.

The Devils scored a second goal before the game was over, a man-advantage marker at 7:23 of the third period when the Flames penalty kill leaked a goal for the fifth straight game. Pavel Zacha poked the puck under Flames goalie David Rittich, the result of an over-commitment of Flames captain Mark Giordano in the corner which allowed the Devils’ Brian Boyle to slip the puck over to Zacha.

Meanwhile, Hall tied the game in the second period at the 7:23 mark before Gaudreau took over.

Monahan’s goal stood as the game-winner which now makes him the first Flames player to hit double digits in deciding markers since Jarome Iginla (10) did it in 2003-04.

And he’s the second player in franchise history to score the winning goal in three consecutive games, joining Al MacInnis, who did it Feb. 5-9, 1994.

“This is an important trip for our group, coming off what happened at home and in the last few games,” Monahan said. “Two wins to start this road trip? We’ve just gotta build and continue to go.”

The Flames defence, backstopped by Rittich, stood tall.

The first period tested the Flames back-up netminder early, which was perhaps a good thing, as the 25-year-old was making his first start since a Jan. 25 loss to the host Edmonton Oilers. He stopped a Blake Coleman shot and another Miles Wood chance which seemed to get him in the game. If that didn’t, Kyle Palmieri ringing a post with four minutes remaining certainly woke him up.

“Two points matter … nothing else,” Rittich said. “You know, you can have good numbers and lose 1-0, but if you get two points, numbers do not matter. The two points is most important for me.”

Now the Flames head to Manhattan to play the New York Rangers (5 p.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan) before enjoying a day-off Saturday. Their crucial road trip continues after that on Sunday at Barclay’s Center against the New York Islanders (5 p.m., Sportsnet/Sportsnet 960 the Fan).